Ling played with the Charlottetown Abbies for 3 seasons and in his third seasonMRJHL as a 17 year old in 1991–92, as he scored 33 goals, 75 points and 270 PIM in only 30 games. Ling also played eight games with the St. Michael's Buzzers of the OHA, earning 19 points.

Ling made his OHL debut during the 1992–93 season, as he had 17 goals, 63 points and 275 PIM in 64 games with the Kingston Frontenacs. Ling had a solid playoff with Kingston, as he had 15 points in 16 games, helping the club to the third round of the post-season.

In the 1993–94 season, Ling improved his numbers, scoring 37 goals and 77 points in 61 games, as well as accumulating 254 PIM. Ling then chipped in with six points in six playoff games for the Frontenacs.

Ling saw his numbers explode during the 1994–95, as he finished second in the league with 135 points, as he scored an OHL high 61 goals, along with 74 assists, helping lead the Frontenacs to best record in the East Division. Ling continued his dominance in the playoffs, scoring seven goals and 15 points in only six games despite playing with a broken thumb. In spite of his efforts, the Frontenacs were upset in the first round. Ling was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in the OHL, the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the highest scoring right winger in the OHL, as well as CHL Player of the Year.[2]

Ling would eventually see his number 17 raised to the rafters, as the Frontenacs honoured his number.

On June 21, 1995, Ling would have his rights transferred to the Colorado Avalanche as the Nordiques relocated to Denver, Colorado to begin play in 1995-96. He would not stay in Colorado for very long, as on July 7, 1995, the Avalanche traded Ling and Colorado's ninth round draft pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft to the Calgary Flames for the Flames ninth round draft pick in the same draft.

Ling made his professional hockey debut with the Saint John Flames of the AHL during the 1995-96 season, scoring 24 goals and 56 points in 75 games with Saint John, while registering 179 PIM. Ling then appeared in nine playoff games for Saint John, earning five assists.

Ling finished out the 1997–98 season with the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL, where he had 14 points in 12 games, then earning five points in five playoff games.

On September 3, 1998, Ling signed with the Kansas City Blades of the IHL, however, the Blackhawks retained his NHL rights. He had a very solid 1998–99 season in Kansas City, scoring 30 goals and 72 points in 82 games, however, he recorded only a goal in three playoff games with the Blades.

Ling returned to Kansas City for the 1999-00 season, as he had an even better season with the Blades, recording 35 goals and 83 points in 82 games.

On August 11, 2000, the Blackhawks traded Ling to the Dallas Stars for future considerations.

Ling spent most of the 2001–02 season with the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he had 19 goals and 60 points in 71 games. In the playoffs, he had 10 points in 10 games. Ling also returned to the NHL in 2001–02, where he played in five games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, earning no points while having seven minutes in penalties.

Ling played a majority of the 2002–03 season with Syracuse, as he had 41 points in 46 games. He was then called up to Columbus, where he finished the season with the Blue Jackets, earning five points in 35 games.

The 2003–04 season was spent mostly in Columbus, where Ling appeared in 50 games, earning three points and 98 PIM. Ling also appeared in 14 games with Syracuse, where he had seven goals and 17 points, before adding an assist in seven playoff games.

Ling returned to North America on July 9, 2007, when he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs once again.

He spent the entire 2007–08 season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, where he scored 17 goals and 59 points in 71 games. Ling had a solid playoff run with the Marlies, earning 14 points in 17 games.

Ling left for Europe for the 2008–09 season, as he played for EHC Biel of National League A, where he had 22 points in 33 games. Ling then moved to Jokerit of the SM-liiga, as he earned 13 points in 23 games. He played for Jokerit in the playoffs, earning three points in five games.